Inertia operated pump mechanism



Nov. l?, 1931. c. H. BRASELTQN 1,831,996

INERTA OPERATED PUMP MECHANSM Filed June 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l ape f/ll mann IAII

NOV. 17, 19H31. C,n H, BRASELTON 1,831,996

INERTIA OlERATED PUMP MECHANISM Filed June 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 PATENT OFFICE' i CHESTER- H. BRASELTON, 0F NEVI YORK, N. Y.

INERTIA OPERATED PUMP MCHANISM Application filed June 6,

This invention relates to inertia operated pump mechanism of the type wherein the relative movement of the piston and cylinder of the pump caused by the inertia of the piston will induce a pumping action for fiuid. Particularly the invention relates to such mechanism as employed for' elevating a liquid, such'as gasoline used in motor cars, from a lower or main reservoir to a higher auxiliary reservoir from which it may feed down to a carburetor or other liquid distributing device for use in the engine of the machine.

Among the objects of this invention is to devise an inertia operated mechanism which is adapted for fixture upon the frame or body of any automobile or other vehicle in which the frictional connection between the relatively movable elements is reduced to a minimum, thereby permitting as small a weight as is absolutely essentialA in order to secure the pumping effect in the mechanism. This object is obtained chiefly by providing a single bearing surface between the plunger element and the support affixed to the base of the container, thisI connection being sliding of the interrelated parts and dispensing with the necessity of a two Contact bearing.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for making the pump action ineffective after the contamer has received liquid up to a predetermined level. Upon the filling of the container up to `this limit, the pump cylinder is automatically Aheld open to the atmosphere and thus the intermittent movementthereof has no effect in causing a movement of liquid from the main or reservoir tank up to the auxiliary tank, but merely an idle movement doing no work.

It is an object also to prevent eXtreme pumping action when the mechanism is subjected to abnormally powerful forces such as would occur when the vehicle is passing over an extremely rough road. Thisobject isL obtained by providing a resilient device which is adapted to dampen the movement of the plunger when such movement occurs beyond a certain limit determined by the design of the pump, the resilient element `also provid- 1922. Serial No. 566,379.

ing a quick return for the plunger from the outer limit of this movement.

The invention also relates to novel features of the valvular construction, the connection between the interrelated parts, and to various mechanical features of design and operation which will more fully hereinafter appear by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part'of this specification, and, in which Figure l is a conventional showing of an automobile with my invention applied thereto;

Figure II is adetailed sectional elevation of the auxiliary pump mechanism and tank showing the various novel features of the invention;

Figure III is a cross sectional elevation taken of the upper float controlled valve mechanism taken at an angle of 9()O from the point of view shown in Figure Il; Y

Figure IV isa detailed-plan view of the upper valve structure taken on line 4-4 of Figure II, and

Figure V is a detailed sectional View taken onv line 5-5 of Figure II. able and of such a length as to prevent `bind- In the various sectional views the viewpoint is taken in the direction of the small arrows afiixed to the drawings.

In Figure of the drawings, there is show a conventional form of automobile 1, having an engine 2, fed by a carbureter 3, receiving fuel through pipe 4 from the auxiliary tank supply 5, positioned on the dash 6. .The main supply of fuel is in the rear reservoir tank 5 connected to the auxiliary tank 5 by means of a conduit or pipe 8. The pumping mechanism operative to raise the liquid fuel in the tank 5 to a height in the tank 5, from which it may feed by gravity to the carburetor, is shown attached to the dash, but it should be understood that any other part of the engine or automobile body would serve the same purpose ii this system, inasmuch as the'principle as involved in the operation of the tank is dependent upon the vibration of the tank 5, and, this vibration in an automobile is secured by fastening the tank to any Vpart of the frame or engine.

In Figure II there isI shown the pump mechanism in detail together with the auxiliary tank receptacle associated therewith. The tank is shown in the form of a main cylindrical portion 6, having end pieces 7 and 8 formed of pressed met-al and, in the case of the bottom piece 8, permanently fixed thereto by solder or other means, and, in the case of the upper plate 7, attached by means of screws 9 which bind together the flange member 10 of the cap 7, and the fiange 11 secured to the upper part of the cylinder, said screws passing through an interposed gasket member 12, thereby obtaining a fluid tight joint.

The base of the tank 8 has two apertures formed therein, the aperture 12 having a litting 13 secured thereto, adapted to connect theoutlet pipe 4 to the tank. In the center of the plate 8', there is second aperture in which a pipe 14 is aliied by means of solder or `some other means making a fluid tight joint, the ends of the pipe extending below the end cap to point whichwill permit of the attachment thereto of ascrew threaded 5 element 15, to which is attached a fitting 16 terminating in a screw' threaded aperture 17 adapted to connect the inlet pipe 8 extending from the main tank 5. The fitting 16 is hollowed to -permit'the insertion of a de- Hector plate 18 adapted to be positioned immediately above the inlet aperture at the base thereof and a cylindrical screen 19 'extending from the edges of the deflector plate up to the base of the pipe 14 so that a liquid l* strainer of relatively large proportions is prou tioned a bushing 28, the lower edge of which is formed into anfannular Vflange24,adapted to rest on a shoulder of the coupling 21, Athis joint being made liquid tight by means of an annular washer 26 placed between the lower edge ofthe annular flange and the shoulder 25. The lower end of the bushing has `an opening somewhat relatively constricted, the upper portion of the bushing having an enlarged opening, thus forming a shoulder interiorly of the bushing and positioned partway up the length thereof. Upon this inner shoulder 27, a drop plate valve 28 `is adapted to function, the exact form of the valve'being clearly brought out `in Figure V of the drawings, there being four radial projections on the circumference of the valve which are adapted to engage the interior walls of the bushing and have longitudinal movements therewith. The upward move- [-"5 ment of the valve is limited by the base of a pipe tubing 29, which has a circumferential ring resting upon shoulder 82 formed on the upper interior wall of the bushing 23, the upper end of the tubing 29 terminating a short distance upwardly within the cylinder 22.

The. elements described, constitute the stationary portions of the pump and tank. The movable elements are comprised in a plunger proper 4() movable axially within the cylin- -der 22 and an inertiaelement 41 a valve 42 and a fioat60 adapted to control the movement of said valve. The plunger 40 is in the shape of a tube, having an enlarged ca Yity at its base adjacent the upwardly extending pipe 29 and extending below the top thereof, the lower portion of trie plunger moving in the recess formeel by the pipe 29 and the wall of the cylinder. T he upper end of the plunger 40 is somewhat constricted and carries on itsupper terminal a Alat plate 44 having four radial projections at approximately 90 around the circumference thereof which projections are adapted to ride in vertical run-ways 45 `formed in a cage 46 immediately above the upperenn of the plunger 40. rlfhis cage has its side walls secured to an annular plate 47 which is screw-threaded to a part adjacent the upper terminus ofthe plunger, the outer edge of this plate carrying vmachine screws 47 which are adapted to enter pockets 472 securedin the end of a hollow cylindrical mass 48, completely surrounding the pump and plunger elements. The upper center of the cage 46 receives an eye bolt 49 to which is secured a chain 50, the upper end of the chain being voperated by means -of a flexible rod 51 and ring F2-working through the arcuate tube 53 whereby the plunger element may be worked manually from without the casing.

To the upper end of the eye bolt 49 is fixed an annular stamping-54 having a downward turned flange 55, the base of saidA annular plate bearing upon the'upper end of the main Acoil support-ing spring 56, the lower end of said' spring restingy around the base of the conical-support 2O adjacent the lower end of the casing.

Adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the inertia element 48 is a float 60 of annular formationI and with a hollow interior such as will permit axial movementI thereof about the eye bolt 49. By means of bolts 61, plates 62 are secured to the base of the float. these plates projecting inwardly to a point adjacent the upper periphery of the plunger element immediately below the valve plate 42 so that when the float is raised by liquid or manual means, the inner end of these plates 62 engage the valve and lift it off its seat thereby rendering the movement of the plunger 40 entirely ineffective as a pumping element. lBy this means when the tank is filled with liquid to a Ypredetermined point, the

. the end of the4 spring being free. The object of this spring is to prevent a too-vigorous downward movement of the plunger in the event that it is subjected to severe external forces. Ordinarily, the top of the spring is free, and does not contact against the supporting plate 47 at the top of the plunger, the

movement of said plunger within said normal ranges being unobstructed. But inthe event that a severe force is placed upon the plunger, and causing it Yto move downwardly fo an abnormal extent,;this plate will contact with the top of the spring, which thereby absorbing the energy of the movement, brings the plunger to a state of rest, followed by a consequent quick reactive eect tending toV restore the plunger to its normal position again.

As previously intimated, the operation of the pumpingmechanism above described is dependent upon the relative movement of a floating or freely movable member having a relatively high mass, and, consequently, high inertia effect, and a member such as the cylinder of the pump, fixed to the support, and susceptible of quick movement such as cannot be followed by the inertia element. Consequently, when there is such a movement of the support, there occurs a relative movement between the plunger element and the cylinder element, resulting in a compression of the fluid in the pump chamber, which compression is followed by an expansion due to the action of the compression spring 56. In the case where the support is part of an automobile, it is readily understood that the constant vibration and movement of the frame of the automobile over' a road results in a continued movement of the cylinder rigidly attached to the frame, in'conjunction with the vibration due to the engine itself,

and thus there results a constant relative movement of the cylinder and plunger inducing in conjunction with the one way move ment of the inlet and outlet valves a constant How of liquid or fuel from the main tank of the automobile to the auxiliary tank 5, the

liquid then feeding down through the pipe 4 into the carbureter and then into the engine itself. This pumping action is continuous' while the engine is in operation or the car is in movement, and, consequently, if alle fuel is not being used very rapidly, the supply in the auxiliary tank 5 will increase to a point.- when the liquid level will support the float i thereby lifting the valve 42 from its seat, de-

stroying the suction effect of the pump, and

permitting `the same to idle without doing any work. This idling of the pump contin ues until the liquid level is lowered to a point where .the float may again permit the valve to reseat itself and the pumping action goes once more into effect.

' Should the auxiliary tank 5 be entirely empty at the time of starting, by means of the ring 52 and its connecting members 51 and 50, the plunger element may be reciprocated so that a pumping action may, in this manner, manually be carried on, and an initial supply of fuel brought upv into the auxiliary tank. After starting of the engine, the supply will be automatically taken care of by the engine and Vautomobile vibration. Attention is directed to the constructionparticularly of the float element, which is in the shape of an annular ring surrounding the central axis of the tank, whereby a balanced distribution of weight is secured in the tank. This arrangement also permits a novel mounting .of the pumping mechanism so thatall the weight is supported from the central base member 20 without the necessity of utilizing a guide bearing secured to the upper top plate of the tank. This mounting is improved also by means of the long bearing contact between the plunger 40 and the cylinder 22, this bearing tending to prevent a lateral warping ofthe plunger and inertia mass as a unit. The above arrangement of the pumping mechanism forms an exceedingly well balanced and unified construction, permitting smooth and eficient movement and resulting in economy of weight and power requisite for the pumping operation.

It is understood, of course, that the embodiment of the invention above disclosed is illustrative rather than definitive and thus the scope of the invention is bounded only by the scope of the claims hereto appended, such `claims being intended to cover all objects of llC combination of'a tank, means adapted to lift liquid and dischargeit into said tank, and includingv a plunger, `a weight operatively connected toV said plunger and adapted to move the same when said weight is moved,

a delivery conduit leading from said means 'l to said tank, and float controlled means adapted to render said first mentioned means linoperative when the liquid supply rin the tank reaches a predetermined level., said float -controlled means being carried by said plunger.

2. In a device of the class described, the 'combination of a tank, a cylinder supported therein, a hollow plunger reciprocatably mounted in said cylinder andfhaving a valve :seat at itszupper end,;a weight supported by said plunger belowsaid valve seat, a discharge valve cooperating with said valve seat, a loatsur-rounding said valve seat above-said weightI and provided with means for engaging said discharge valve, and means l for, resiliently supporting said weight.

' cylinder, resilient means tor supporting said weight, astop ring on therouter wall of said cylinder, .and a spring engaging; said stop r-ing and positioned in the-annular space betweenv said cylinder and weight to restrain excessive movements of said plunger.

fl. Inr a device of the class described, the combination of, a tank, a cylinder supported therein,.a plunger` reciprocatably mounted in said cylinder, a weight secured to the upper endy of said plunger, ymeans. tor. resiliently supporting said Weight, an intake valve and av discharge valve cooperating with said cylinder-and plungertoy introduce liquid into the tank, meansvsecured'tc the tank-forming A the solel support: orsaid cylinder and plunger, andv means actuated by the fluid level in the, tank wheusaid levelreaches a vpredetermined maximum for engaging one of said -valves and lifting thesame oil' `of its seat to render the cylinder and plunger inoperative tointroduc-eliquid into the tank, said means including a member adapted to Contact with said liquid.

In a device otthe class described, the combination of a tank, a cylinder axially supported therein, a plunger reciprocatably mounted inI the cylinder, aV weight secured. to the upper end ot' the plunger, means for resiliently supporting said weight, an intake valve and a discharge valve cooperatingwith said cylinder .and plunger to permit, introduce tion of Huid into ihe tank, said weight and plunger being guided solely by the cylinder, said cylinder being supportedat its. lower end only from'. the tank, and means operable by the liquid level whenthesame reaches a predetermined maXimum for engaging said discharge valve tollift the same from its seat and render said cylinder and plunger inoperative to introduce fluid intofthetank, said means including a member adapted to Contact with said fluid.

G. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tank, a cylinder-supported therein, a weighted plunger reciprocatably mounted in said cylinder, an intake valveand a discharge valvefor controlling theilow of liquid into said cylinder Vand from said cylinder to lsaid tank, and means includingy a Amember normally moving with said plunger for rendering one of said valves ineffective when the liquid reaches a predetermined level in the tank.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tank, a cylinder supported therein, a weighted hollow plunger reciprocatably mounted in said cylinder and having a discharge check valve therein, and means for rendering said discharge check valve inetl'ective when the liquid level in the tank rises to a predetermined level including a float mounted on the upper end of the hollow plunger sothat it is normally supported thereby butmay move upwardly with respect thereto, and connections whereby said float acts on said disch arge check valve.

8. In a deviceof the class described the combination of a tank, an inertia` actuated pump discharging into sai-d tank, and means for rendering said pump inoperative for a portion ot the stroke thereof when the liquid in said tank reachesk a predetermined level and for increasing the inoperative portion ot' the stroke the level of the liquid thereafter' rises until said piunp becomes completely inoperative at a predeterminedA maximumlevel.

lu testimony whereof, I my signature.

ci-rnsfrnn H. BRASELTON; 

